PLAYBOY’S FALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23109, 8 February 1937, Page 11

PLAYBOY’S FALL

£3OO-A-WEEK LIFE

CHAMPAGNE AND FOLLIES NOW LOOKING FOR A JOB Paul Vincent Desgrand Mitchell, aged 19, one-time £3OO a week Mayfair playboy, was advised by Judge Dodson, at the Old Bailey recently, to give up night and cocktail bars. Mitchell’s home is in Gwendwr road. West Kensington, and he was described as a financier in the calendar. He was found guilty of obtaining ci'edit from Messrs Schwab and Snelling, stockbrokers, to the extent of £536 2s lOd, by means of fraud other than false pretences, and was bound over.

It was urged for the defence that he had met rogues in the West End who were charming and lived on their charm, and used people like Mitchell as a dupe. Judge Dodson, giving his decision, said: ” There is only one chance for you—that is, to settle down to real honest work.”

Mitchell's mother—Mrs June Mitchell, ex-American actress June Van Busker—met her son coming out of the probation officer's room, took his arm, and said: “This is the end of Mayfair night life for him.” SPENT £3OO A WEEK “Just a year ago I was living at the Dorchester Hotel at the rate of £3OO a week,” wrote Mitchell, in telling his storv after the conviction. “I lit a cigar with a £lO note. Every night I sent a dozen bottles of champagne to the Follies girls. Now at 19 I am looking for my first steady job. “Almost straight from Bradfield Public School I stepped into the arms of the Mayfair racket. I thought I was being clever. “This is how I met them. I was going to the 1935 Derby. On the platform of Waterloo I saw two Germans trying to make themselves understood to a third man. I stepped in, talked to them in French, and offered my help. One of them was very friendly. I travelled down to the races with him. As we talked on the racecourse he casually pulled £IOOO from his wallet, plunged it all on one horse. I was very impressed. The man said he liked me, could make me big. “We dined that night at the Berkeley. People passing our table said, ‘ Hello, Paul.’ Most of them wore Old Etonian ties. It was his turn to be impressed. He asked me did I know many influential people. I drew up a list of dozens. Then he said he would pay me £BO a week if I brought him £SOOO worth of business a month. The deal was done. He sent me straight to a suite at the Mayfair Hotel. I had my own valet—a nice lad. I chose him myself. I had everything I wanted. The money was provided for me. No questions were asked. “SPLENDOUR WENT TO MY HEAD ”

“ The splendour of it all went to my head. Imagine jumping from a dull job at £5 a week to carrying £IOOO around as pocket money. “Of course I was just showing off— I was conceited and stupid. After a few months of this light work, my friend said, ‘ You need a holiday. Better slip over to Cannes. I’ll arrange it.’ That sounded good to me. I flew to Paris, where a suite at the Ritz was already booked for me. On to Cannes, another suite waiting, at the Martinez Hotel. My friend’s agent met me and I swept him through all the influential circles. Then I met a charming business man—who sported an Old Etonian tie. He seemed only too willing to help me. He installed me in a suite at the Mayfair Hotel. I began the same old round of introductions again. . “Third and last of my rich friends was Captain Angus. He was living in a suite at the Carlton. I introduced Lady Buckland to him, and she finally brought action against him for fraud. He got five years. “These are the sort of bills I paid (hat that time:— “ £9OO for one month’s entertaining at the Dorchester; " £145 for a transatlantic telephone call. “ People flattered me, and I Just signed the bills.

COMPLETE PLAYBOY “So at 19 I was the complete Mayfair playboy, kidding myself I was a man about town with enough experience to make other boys of my age look like kindergarten pupils.” “Gradually I saw my friends, swindled out of hundreds, cutting me and threatening all sorts of action. But the people around me were strong influences, and I was going at too fast a pace to think of braking. Then there were these shares that caught me. I thought there would be no danger; I expected everything would be fixed up. I really did not deliberately defraud the firm. I had no idea anything I was doing was illegal. “Then I got in a jam. The only person to turn to was Miss Ann Turner. We married. We are great friends, but not in love. She lives at the Ritz, and has a room for me. I can go there whenever I want. She lent me £BOO so that I could go to America to look for a job. I was in New York for some weeks, having a grand time. Then I went to Hollywood. Everyone was very kind to me. “ I went out with a suite on the boat, my own secretary, all the champagne I could drink. But in Hollywood I got down to my last 30 dollars. I heard about the writ for my arrest. I did not want to shirk it, or hide. I came back as soon as I could.”